On Friday, Diamond Sports, the regional sports group under the Bally brand, announced agreements with the NHL and NBA. As part of the agreement, the broadcaster will terminate its contracts with the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Diamond’s announcement comes amid the company’s bankruptcy saga that began in March 2023.
It’s unclear how fans will watch Mavericks games this season. The team will appear on national television 30 times during the 2024-25 season, but has referred all requests for further details to the league.
“We have reached a new agreement with Diamond Sports Group for the 2024-25 season, during which Diamond RSNs will broadcast local games of 13 NBA teams,” an NBA spokesperson said.
“The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans have declined to continue broadcasting their games on Diamond RSNs and will soon announce further details on how to watch next season’s games in their respective markets. This new agreement is subject to bankruptcy court approval,” they continued.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, had already signed alternate broadcast agreements for the 2024-25 season. Diamond’s new contracts, including those with the NBA and NHL, still need to be approved by a federal bankruptcy judge. A hearing is scheduled for September 3.
NHL and NBA adjust contract terms with Bally
The NHL and NBA have adjusted their contract terms, which will likely result in a reduction in licensing fees, but specific figures were not given in Friday’s court documents. The NBA filing described the Mavericks’ and Pelicans’ exit from Diamond Sports as a mutual decision.
Both leagues, the Mavericks and the Pelicans, have not responded to requests for comment. In the 2024-25 season, Diamond Sports will broadcast games from 13 NBA teams and nine NHL teams.
This summer, Diamond and Comcast were involved in a nearly three-month dispute that resulted in Diamond’s channels being unavailable to Comcast Xfinity subscribers during the Major League Baseball season. Diamond also broadcasts games for a dozen MLB teams.
In early August, Diamond and Comcast reached an agreement to bring the games back into Comcast’s lineup. However, as part of the deal, the Diamond channels had to be upgraded to a premium tier, meaning customers now have to pay an additional monthly fee to access them.
Alternative for the Dallas Mavericks
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If Diamond successfully emerges from bankruptcy, the company will have reached agreements with the NBA and NHL that extend beyond the 2024-25 season. Still, the critical question of Diamond’s long-term sustainability remains unresolved.
When WFAA asked Mavs management for an official comment on the Diamond Sports Group situation, they referred to the NBA’s announcement.
As WFAA-TV reported, Dallas Mavericks minority shareholder Mark Cuban said at an event earlier this month that the franchise would seek to expand its distribution options if Bally did not renew its contract with the Mavericks.
One possibility might be a collaboration with the Dallas Stars, who have terminated their rights deal with Bally and are about to launch Victory+, a direct-to-consumer streaming app that will allow fans in their market to watch games for free this season.
The situation will become clearer after the Diamond Sports network hearing on September 3.
